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Here's one way to not get picked for jury duty: Be the mayor

 
Mayor called, won’t serve as juror
Mayor called, won’t serve as juror
Published Dec. 15, 2015

Tampa — Mayor Bob Buckhorn reported for jury duty Monday morning.

By the end of the day, he had not been put on any panels of prospective jurors and was dismissed from duty.

It wasn't a surprise. Buckhorn said he had been summoned twice before, once when he was a special assistant to then-Mayor Sandy Freedman and once when he was serving on the City Council, and was rejected both times.

On Monday, he brought along a briefcase full of work-related reading to keep himself busy while he waited at the Hillsborough County Courthouse.

"As the chief law enforcement officer in the city, there are some complications with me serving," he said. "But it's my duty to show up.

"I'm happy to do it. … It's important that people do take the time to show up."

Times staff

Tampa — Mayor Bob Buckhorn reported for jury duty Monday morning.

By the end of the day, he had not been put on any panels of prospective jurors and was dismissed from duty.

It wasn't a surprise. Buckhorn said he had been summoned twice before, once when he was a special assistant to then-Mayor Sandy Freedman and once when he was serving on the City Council, and was rejected both times.

On Monday, he brought along a briefcase full of work-related reading to keep himself busy while he waited at the Hillsborough County Courthouse.

"As the chief law enforcement officer in the city, there are some complications with me serving," he said. "But it's my duty to show up.

"I'm happy to do it. … It's important that people do take the time to show up."

Times staff